I’ve seen a bunch of other blogs do some lists.  Top tens, top fives, top fifties, I’ve even read this blog that highlights the top 100 Marvel What If…? stories of all time.  So, I decided to my own list.  In fact, if all goes as planned, this will be the first list of several to come down the road. 

I thought the best place to start would be my top ten favorite superheroes.  This was actually a more difficult undertaking than I thought it would be.  There are a lot of superheroes that I really enjoy and have a really special place in my heart.  Narrowing them down to ten, and in order from 10th favorite to most favorite is a hard thing.  I know who my top two are, after that, it’s really just a list. 

One thing you’ll notice once we get into the top ten, is there are a few quite popular heroes that are left out of the list.  Why?  Because I tend to not like certain “anti-heroes” as much as the general populace.  However, because there are some that I kind of like and feel like merit a mention, here is the prequel to my top ten favorite superheroes.   What follows are the honorable metions.

We start with Reed Richards, Mister Fantastic.  Reed Richards is one of those superheroes that end up a bit underrated because of the team with which he is surrounded.  Honestly, when you’ve got a super strong Rock monster, a hottie that can turn invisible and make impenatrable force fields just by thinking about it, and a dude that can ignite his body, throw fire, and fly it’s pretty hard to get notice because you can stretch.  However, here’s a guy that is the patriarch of just that team.  His intellect is unparalleled.  His leadership skills have saved the Fantastic Four time and time again, and he passionately loves his wife and child. 

For all of his intellect and the tendancy to be a bit distant from those around him when he’s working on a project or a new invention, the one staple of Reed Richard’s character is that he loves Sue, he loves Franklin, he does his best to be a good brother-in-law, and he continues to try to live up to the friendship that he and Ben Grimm have enjoyed over the years.  In fact, one of my favorite Reed Richard’s moments is in a retelling of the Fantastic Four origin with Reed acting as narrator while talking to his daughter.  He ends the whole thing by confessing that he set up Fantastic Four Inc. and does all of the heroics out of guilt for his family ending up the way they did.  He knows he’s ultimately responsible, and has constantly tried to make his family’s life better since. 

As far as powers go, it may seem that he drew the short straw, but truth be told, his stretching ability makes him nearly indestructible and useful in a lot of situations.  (And not just reaching items on the top shelf situations.)  Reed Richards has been a parachute, a soft landing cushion, a life raft, and has even been the one reason the Fantastic Four have been able to escape countless traps.

Favorite Reed Richards moment:  Reed was struggling with the answer to a problem, so he made a conference call to the only people that could help him figure it out, other Reed Richards from different dimensions.  Mindbending and cool at the same time.

Next in the honorable mentions list is Robin.

There have been three Robins in DC comics, Dick Grayson was the original, Jason Todd was the one who died, and Tim Drake is the current Robin.  Quite frankly, he’s as good as Dick Grayson in my opinion. 

Robin is THE original sidekick.  While he was relegated to his “Holy whatever” lines in the sixties television show and later incarnations of the Superfriends, Robin plays a vital role in the legend of Batman.  How?  It is the presence of Robin that keeps Batman grounded.  He’s Batman’s connection to humanity.  Darwyn Cooke showed this in Justice League: New Frontier when we get a glimpse into why Batman decided to have a Robin.  Robin makes Batman seem less scary to the people that he doesn’t want to scare. 

The thing about Robin, in nearly all three carnations, is that he’s a sidekick that can hold his own most of the time.  The threats he faces when he’s with Batman are not little bitty threats.  They are as real as the threats that Batman faces, and Robin holds his own. 

On top of that, Robin leads the Teen Titans.  Unlike his television counterpart from the sixties, Robin is taken very seriously in the pages of DC comics and well he should be.  Dick Grayson is now Nightwing, and could reasonably step into the shoes of Batman, if he would.  Jason Todd returned from the dead.  Tim Drake, in an effort to become the World’s greatest detective deduced the true identity of Batman.  Yes, probably the greatest sidekick of all time, Robin is a great superhero in his own right.

Next in the honorable mentions section is The Sensational She Hulk.

When Jennifer Walters needed a life saving blood transfusion, it was her cousin Robert Bruce Banner that was able to step up and save her life, but at what cost?  Well, today, Jennifer would tell you a very small cost.  Early on, even though Jennifer called was the Savage She Hulk she never had the problem with rage that her cousin had.  The reason she was called “savage” was because, like her cousin, anger triggered her transformation into her green skinned alter ego.  Unlike her cousin, though, she retained her intelligence and found that there was a confidence that she enjoyed that was normally lacking in her life.  Thus, she opted to remain in She Hulk form.

She Hulk has been a member of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four.  She’s one of the few people in the Marvel Universe that can give The Thing a run for his money.  Not because she’s super strong, but because she turns the flirt on high power whenever she’s around him making him incredibly nervous and draining him of his usual gusto.

She Hulk merits an honorable mention in my book for several reasons.  The first is her relationship to the Hulk.  Of all the heroes in the Marvel Universe, Jen Walters is the one person who “gets” the Hulk.  That makes me appreciate her.   Then there’s the fun factor.  She Hulk is funny, and since here graphic novel in the mid-eighties, her book has never been afraid to have fun.  In recent months (read during the Planet Hulk Saga and after Civil War) She Hulk started taking down the Hulk’s enemies in his absence, only to be shot up with nanobots that reversed her transformation and kept her as a human by Iron Man.  She’s back with a vengeance now though.

The Silver Surfer:

Norrin Radd gave up his freedom and his “humanity” (for lack of a better word) to serve as the herald of Galactus when the world devourer came to consume his planet.   By doing so, Norrin Radd saved his home planet of Zenn-La and his one true love.   However, his fate was to wander the stars alone, weilder of the power cosmic, finding planets for his master to consume and satiate his unending hunger.

His searches led him to Earth where he encountered the Fantastic Four.  Their heroism and the beauty of the planet awakened the conscience that The Silver Surfer had long allowed to lay dormant.  As Galactus approached, The Surfer stood with his newfound friends and allies against him.  The World Eater sentenced his herald to be bound to Earth for the rest of his days. 

In later years, the Silver Surfer would break his Earthly bonds and soar the stars once more. 

See how my whole tone changes when writing about the Silver Surfer?  He does that to you.  He makes you feel more important, more intelligent, more in touch with the world around you. 

Stan Lee admits openly that The Silver Surfer was Jack Kirby’s creation.  In an interview, Stan mentioned that he got Kirby’s drawings back and there was the Surfer.  Stan was hooked and Norrin Radd became Stan Lee’s voice to his readers.  Lee admits that he allowed his thougts and ideas about the world to be spoken through the words of the Silver Surfer.

I like the Silver Surfer a lot.  His powers are cool.  His stories are enormous in scope, yet they are deeply personal to him as well.  He carries himself with a dignity that belies his guilt over so many worlds being destroyed because of him.  His interactions with the heroes of Earth are always fun to watch, and it’s interesting that readers still go back to him again and again, never complaining that he’s “too powerful.”  His heart, his respect for life, and his heroism make him a compelling character to follow.

Sue Richard (The Invisible Woman):

She may be the most powerful member of the Fantastic Four.  Her passion balances out the concrete and sometimes distracted personality of her husband.  She’s a mother, a sister, a devoted wife and friend, and a fighter.  Seriously, don’t make Sue angry…you wouldn’t like here when she’s angry.

Sue Storm possesses one of the big two when it comes to super powers: invisibility.  (The other of the big two being flight.   Seriously, the question always asked is would you rather be able to be invisible or fly?)  On top of that, she can create invisible, practically impenatrable force fields. 

As I stated before, even her husband has hypothesized that she may be the most powerful member of the Fantastic Four.  Her invisibility allows her to move undetected to the naked eye, her force fields can be as powerful as her own will in a situation. 

The interesting thing about Sue, though, is she never is the power player.  More often than not, her powers are used defensively as opposed to an offensive measure.  This is a reflection of her motherly protectiveness.   However, when she cuts loose, she cuts loose.  I’ve seen her cut off Dr. Dooms air supply, pelt an opponent with a barrage of littly force field balls, and in one of her tougher moments threaten the Wizard with heart failure by creating microscopic force fields in his blood stream to act as blod clots.    Very cool…and scary.  Hell hath no fury friends….Hell hath no fury.

That’s it for part one of the honorable mentions. The top ten will start with my Number 10 favorite Super Hero after part two is posted.  What do you think?  Let’s go ahead and hear your top ten list.  (Remember, this is a safe place to geek out.)

So, I was getting ready to head to bed, flipping the channels and I stopped because my program guide said Best Week Ever was on.  I enjoy the comedic nuggets on that show.  Well, the commercials were on, and I wasn’t paying much attention until I heard the following:

“There are aspects of my personality that I can’t control.”

“Trust me I’ve heard them all.”

“Not this one.”

 I look up and it’s Ed Norton, and I KNOW.  It’s the Incredible Hulk.  Before my mind could register what was happening though, it was over.  It was a commercial advertising the world premiere of the trailer.

Thank God for DVR.  I immediately rewound and watched.  Here’s what I saw. 

Bruce Banner with some time of light lines on his face. (probably a close up from the pic of him in the big white machine.)

Bruce and who I can only assume is Doc Samson talking (the quotes from above).

A guy suddenly going through a window.

Bruce running to a stop looking at something with concern/fear in his eyes.

I Military Hummer plowing through two other vehicles.

Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth) standing apparently shirtless looking into some type of greenish light. 

Bruce sitting up on a bed.

A quick shot of Betty (Liv Tyler).

Finally, what is for me the money shot of the five second vingette…A head shot of Bruce suddenly looking up.  What’s the big deal?  Well, it appears as though he is in a prone position, and as his head swings up, you can see his eyes.  What’s the big deal about his eyes? (Insert girly giggle here.) They are whited out just like Bill Bixby’s eyes in the old television show.  In fact, it looks like a super homage to those classic transformations.  (Insert another girly giggle here.)

I nearly exploded.  I cannot completely express my excitement and hopefulness for this movie and I am soooo glad we are finally getting a trailer next week. 

HULK SMASH!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Update:

The video has now goneYouTube.  (I would just like to point out that I reported the commercial before comingsoon.net.  That’s right…I beat them to the punch.  Still respect them though.)

I haven’t commented on the tragic death of Heath Ledger here on the site.  Honestly, that’s because I don’t feel like there’s anyting that can be said on this website that either hasn’t already been said or that would add anything in anyway to enhance the memory of Ledger.  I will say that his death was tragic and my thoughts and prayers continue to go out to his family and friends.  I don’t know if we’ll ever know how much Heath Ledger’s talent will be missed, but I do know that those close to him will miss the person, not the talent the most.  

The question raised not thirty minutes after the news about Ledger’s death was “What about The Dark Knight?  Did he get everything filmed?  While the timing for a lot of people seemed a bit insensitive, it was a legitmate question to be asked down the road.

The answer is, yes, Ledger finished everything he needed to finish for the Dark Knight.  His portrayal of The Joker looks to be the one that will set the standard for the character for years to come.   There is a lot that has been said about Heath, and a lot more that can be said and most likely will be said. 

Businesswise, it now falls to Warner Brothers to continue to market The Dark Knight in a tasteful and respectful way that will still serve to get people genuinely excited about this film.  One way they’re doing that is by shifting the focusing of the marketing from the Joker to the character of Harvey Dent. 

In fact, Aaron Eckhart has come out and admitted that Harvey Two Face will show up in The Dark Knight.  While we knew that based on earlier reports from Wizard World Chicago and leaked pictures of a Two Face action figure, it’s nice to hear someone involved with the film talk a bit more about the character of Harvey Dent and Two Face.  You can read a great interview with him by clicking here, and since you can still google it and find it, I assume it’s ok to have the picture of the action figure here.  If not…someone let me know.

Then there’s this rumor over at Comics2Film. Apparently someone heard there would be a new trailer for the movie with 10,000 B.C. When I read this, I felt like someone had been misinformed, I had heard this nowhere else. With four months to go before the release of the movie I figure it will be a month or so before we get a new trailer if at all.   However, if there is a new trailer, I expect that it will focus more heavily on Batman and Harvey Dent.   We may even get to see the shot from Wizard World of Harvey Dent talking to the bartender.  

Also, there’s the release of Batman:Gotham Knights on DVD.  This DVD will be an Animatrix styled series of shorts done anime style chronicling events that occur between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.   The shorts will feature villains like Scarecrow, Killer Croc, and Deathstroke.  The presence of Deathstroke (Slade to fans of the Teen Titans cartoon) has led to some speculation that character may be in The Dark Knight.  I wouldn’t expect it.  This movie is gonna be so chock full of stuff from the Joker storyline and the backbone of the story, Harvey Dent’s journey, that if Deathstroke is even mentioned, it will be just that, a quick mention.   Sort of like the nod to Star Wars fans when Obi Wan mentions Master Voss in Revenge of the Sith.

I think that the only speculation left about the movie now is just how good it’s gonna be.  Just a little over four months and counting…. 

I’ve always been intrigued with the whole Marvel vs. DC phenomenon.  I used to fall on the Marvel side of the debate.  In recent years though, (I say recent years, but I guess I mean in the past ten years) I’ve come to really appreciate the depth of DC’s characters and stories they have tackled in the past and even recently.

Comic-wise, I really feel like DC has set the bar as of late and Marvel has just tried to keep up.  When it comes to media outside of comics, in the past 15 years I feel like Marvel has really trumped DC.  Even with projects like Batman the Animated series right on through to Justice League Unlimited, Marvel seemed to always have more of their characters out there.  The X-Men, Spider-Man, Hulk, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, and even the Silver Surfer have all had animated series in the past two decades.  Then came the movies.  If you start with Blade and work your way up to now, Marvel has clearly had the upper hand in drawing awareness to their product through the medium of film.  Even if some of their projects have been misses more than hits.  The characters are out there.  Which is more than what can be said for DC’s properties.

Marvel has led the way as of late in media outside of comics.   That may be about to change though.  We very well could be on the edge of a new frontier.

DC’s latest forray into the direct-to-dvd animation market is Justice League: The New Frontier,  and what a forray it was.  

Because I’m not familiar with the Graphic Novel by Darwyn Cooke, the story is completely new to me, in any format.  It completely works.

Many people were unimpressed with Superman: Doomsday.  While I appreciated it for what it was, I understand the criticisms of the movie.

New Frontier, even though it’s not trying to make up for Superman:Doomsday, totally makes up for it. 

The story, if you’re unfamiliar as I was, takes place in the late fifties on the tail end of the Korean War.  All of our heroes are on individual journey’s, and Hal Jordan and J’onn J’onnz take center stage.  Both are on the edge of new frontiers in their own lives.   Hal, is jsut getting out of the war and becoming a test pilot.   J’onn has just been accidentally transported to Earth from Mars and is trying to fit in.  Batman is in Gotham City doing his detective thing.  Wonder Woman is championing the cause of women around the globe, even if her tactics are somewhat questionable.  Superman is fighting for truth, justice, and the American Way.   

All the while, a threat known as The Center is rising from dormancy to destroy humanity and begin the evolutionary process again.   In the end, our heroes have to band together to stop this threat and protect a human race that is no longer sure how it feels about it’s super human protectors.   It is a story full of intrigue, great characterization, and all out action.

So how does this movie rack up?

Well, let’s start with the animation.   The first thing you notice when watching this movie is that the character designs are like nothing that have come out of Bruce Timm’s camp since he started doing Batman: The Animates Series all those years ago.  The designs are closer to Darwyn Cooke’s work in the actual graphic novel and it really works well.  The designs of the characters take us out of the established Timm/Diniverse and plant us solidly in the world in which this story is being told.  They feel classic and fresh at the same time.  It’s as if we’re seeing old friends in a totally new light.

The animation itself is interesting because on one hand, it’s typical 2-D animation that we expect today.  It’s got great a fantastic quality to it.  But there are moments when something is done to make it seem like the animation of the late 50’s and early 60’s.  You know what I mean.  Where the characters aren’t really animated at all.  Maybe a cape is blowing or a character is moving through space but no part of his body is moving.  This isn’t a complaint mind you.  This is pointing out one of the things that totally make this movie work.  It helps to constantly remind us what the feel of this movie is supposed to be.

There are a couple of subtle moments that work incredibly well as well.  At one point J’onn is watching TV to get an understanding of the culture.  Finally, at the end of a movie, he takes on the form of a human.  As he walks to his apartment window, his whole form is black and white, and slowly he colors himself in.  Another moment is the confrontation that Superman has with Wonder Woman, she is kneeling on a table throughout most of the conversation, but when she steps  off of the table, we see that Amazonian princess actually stands a bit taller than Superman.  It’s just neat.

So the animation is great.  What about the voice work?

Let’s see…David Boreanaz as Hal Jordan?  Well, Boreanaz brings to the table the tone of voice that sounds young, but not too young.  It’s strong, but it’s not overbearing.  It fits the character of Hal Jordan. 

Neil Patrick Harris as the Flash:  I never even heard NPH when The Flash was talking.  I only heard the Flash.  NPH was a fantastic choice for this character.

Lucy Lawless as Wonder Woman:  It really took this long to figure this one out?  Wonderful.

Miguel Ferrer as J’onn J’onnz (The Martian Manhunter): Ferrer did a great job of being at one time John Jones and another J’onn J’onnz.  In his martian form, J’onn’s voice has a distinctly etheral and foreign tone to it.  Ferrer did a good job.

In one of the more controversial choices, Jeremy Sisto as Batman:  I had absolutely no problem with Sisto’s portrayal of Batman.  He brings something new to the character that fits with the persona that Batman is trying to have. 

Then there’s Kyle McLachlin as Superman:  I don’t know where McLachlin has been when it come time to put a voice to Superman, but why didn’t they get him for Superman: Doomsday?  Throughout the years, there have been some great voice work for animated versions of Superman, and I don’t want to take away anything that anyone has ever done.   Bud Collier set the standard back in the forties and Tim Daly did a wonderful job of giving power and at the same time humility to the voice of Superman.  Kyle McLachlin just sounded like Superman.  Period.  His voice was perfect for this movie, and probably any other animated incarnation of Superman we’ll see for a while. 

Ok, so the animation worked, the voices worked, what about the characters themselves.  In two words, nailed it.   Everyone is who they should be.   There’s no tinkering with the characters to make them edgier, grittier, or even tone them down.  They are who they are.  One of my favorite moments is when Batman saves a little boy from being sacrificed by a cult that worships the Center.  When he unties the little boy, the boy is scared of Batman.  Later, we see Batman in the Batcave with Robin.  He explains to Superman, who asks him about why he has a sidekick, “I want to scare criminals, not children.”  WOW.  The other great line from Batman is to J’onn, “I have a $65,000 piece of meteor to use against the Kryptonian if I need it.  All I would need is a penny for a book of matches to take you down.” (Paraphrased)

Just before the final battle, Superman steps up and does what he does best.  He inspires.  His speech to the heroes and soldiers present at the big final showdown is a Superman speech and it works. 

Those are just two expamples, but from Hal Jordan to Barry Allen and everyone else, the characters are portrayed just right.

All in all, this is what a super hero movie should be.  Whether live action or straight to DVD animated, the key is the adherence to the source material.  If it worked on paper, it will work in this medium.    I give this movie a strong 5 out of 5.  Yes.  It’s that good.

I mentioned at the outset of this review the whole Marvel vs. DC thing.  I think Marvel should take a nod from what DC has done in it’s first two direct to DVD outings.  Adapt some of your most famous stories.  We’ve got cartoons, movies, and television shows to go over the origins of these characters.  Skip the origins and use this medium to pay homage to some of the great stories of the past.  I think that Marvel will find themselves back in the drivers seat when it comes to media outside of comics again if they do this. 

All in all, if you haven’t picked up New Frontier yet, do it.  The Justice League and Legion of Doom special features alone are worth the price of admission, couple that with two different commentaries and you’ve got yourself one heck of a DVD.  You can click the handy links below to go to Amazon and pick up a copy of the movie and the graphic novel for yourself if you haven’t already.

In this episode, we look at my first review in a big time magazine.  Talk a bit about Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, and the rumored link between those two movies.  Then we jump into a little geeking out about Superman on film.  All this and some shout outs, shameless plugs, and geeky easter eggs on the return of the most “hard to stomach” podcast on the net.

Here’s the link promised on the cast:

 

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